Generator charging batteries

[Raiden2912]

So I have a question I have a gennie with my PV system, my installer says that I can charge my batteries during extended load shedding, my charge settings are set to 10A. Today I tested it and it seems that my gennie struggles. I have a change over switch in my house from Eishkom to Gennie so I switched that to gennie to test and I had some inconsistent readings on SA. Not sure if anyone has any ideas or I will post findings once my installer comes back

The attached pics are after I switched off the feed from Eskom to the house. 

im taking the picture that shows grid power of from the generator….

Very inconsistent 

maybe someone has some ideas

[PsyWulf]

A better question is what does it sound like,revving up and down?

[Raiden2912]

Yes it is revving up and down

[PsyWulf]

So voltage(output) is fluctuating too much causing the inverter to disconnect the generator,it spins down and stabilizes,load reconnects and the cycle repeats

Some people have had success connecting a load first directly to the generator to get it to stabilize before switching,I'd do something like a drill or so you can control the throttle of. Load the generator up with the drill,then change over to inverter,once inverter syncs slowly decrease the drill speed

Edited May 2, 2023 by PsyWulf

[Raiden2912]

Thank you Psy will try this 

[Douw G. Gerber]

Hijacking the thread...I don't have the option to setup the Eskom Eskom loadshedding schedules in my SA as you do...  I checked the QA on the website on how to do this - don't have the option as described.

 

Cheers

Douw

[Douw G. Gerber]

2 minutes ago, Douw G. Gerber said:

Hijacking the thread...I don't have the option to setup the Eskom Eskom loadshedding schedules in my SA as you do...  I checked the QA on the website on how to do this - don't have the option as described.

 

Cheers

Douw

LOLS - I see they now posted it is only availabl ein the latest BETA

[Raiden2912]

Yup I joined the beta program

[Jack007]

you might want to consider this:

 

[PsyWulf]

6 hours ago, Douw G. Gerber said:

LOLS - I see they now posted it is only availabl ein the latest BETA

Beta,give it 24hours,then add your area in the settings for SA

[PsyWulf]

[Raiden2912]

My installer got my settings working today, so I now have my generator charging my batteries when required, with the extended load shedding happening, cable theft and just plain down incompetence this is going to come in handy when I have issues with power or low battery. So the long and short of it is my installer changed the charge amps and also walked me through how to properly use the generator with the PV system. Generators due to it being dirty power (I think stated in this thread) need to normalize and also keep the inverter happy, so I need to fool the inverter of some sort to ‘think’ that eskom is charging the batteries when there is no eskom…..a process I much rather would do than sit without batteries and decreasing my battery life. Next stop - auto start the generator when my batteries drop below 40%

[Raiden2912]

Installer notes cause I’m forgetful like that 

Current generator for charging battery is as follows:

1/ Set Eskom, generator switch in the house by the DB board to Generator.
2/ Start generator, let warm up and switch the circuit breaker on. Generator will load up then settel down.
3/ If topping batterys on a dark overcast day, then the solar panels must be disconnected. As the solar pickup indicats solar power and as long as that condition is on the AC input from Eskom or generator will not charge the batterys. Have to make like its night time!
4/ Shutting down. Can switch the eskom/generator switch back to ESKOM SUPPLIE. Then can shut down the generator. First switch the breaker off, then shut down the generator, normal procedure.